Headlines - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Deaths Continue...

The fight against carbon monoxide poisoning has seen some success in France, as evidenced by a long-term decline in mortality rates. But this form of poisoning continues to claim lives, as evidenced by the two deaths in Burgundy and Franche-Comté during the winter of 2012–2013 and, very recently in the Var, the fatal poisoning of three people who had spent the night gathered around a brazier in an enclosed space. In Burgundy as in Franche-Comté, there have been about thirty cases of poisoning per year for several years, though it is unclear whether the carbon monoxide poisoning surveillance system (Siroco) is comprehensive. The number of people involved and poisoned varies significantly depending on the number of mass poisonings occurring in public establishments. While the facilities involved are most often stationary installations (60%), the proportion of mobile combustion installations (7%) and, above all, internal combustion engines (15%) is not negligible. Identifying the causes of poisoning and eliminating them are crucial to preventing new cases and justify the rapid reporting of poisonings to protect the health of exposed individuals.